Distributer for automobile-circuits.



C. j. WMLACE.

DISTRIBUIER FOR AUTOMOBILE CIRCUITS.

APPuc/ITlON FILED JULY 31.1915.

Lfl www@ OCI. 30, um.

2 SHEETSSHEET I- APPLICATION FILED .IULY 3l. I9I5.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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irs eine CLRL J. VALLACE,

OF SPRINGFELD, OHIO DISTRIBUTER 'FOR A'UTOMOBILEeCIRCUITS.

' State of Ohio, have invented certainv new and useful linprovements inDistributers ior Automobile-Circuits, of which the following isaspeciicetion, reference being hed therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to distributers for .automobile circuits. 'lheobject of the invention is to provide a very simple and com pactarrangement of circuits and controlling devices which will enable thesecircuits to be controlled in groups and individually,T in a eonvenientmanner. To this end it is a further object of the invention to providethe device with a main switch to control one group of circuits, such asthe lighting` end horn circuits, and to provide a second groupof'circuits,lsuch as the engine circuits, with a separate controllingdevice, the circuits of each group being provided with individualcontrolling devices, thus enabling either group of circuits as a wholeto be 4controlled independently oit the other group Aand enabling the.individual circuits oi each group to 'be controlled independentlyot'each other when the inein controlling device is in its closedposition. is also! an object ot the invention to provide a controllingmechanism for the engine circuits whereby a single device will controlthe starter ciiwd cuit and both ignition `circuits and where-hyl theignition circuits end 'the starter circuit. can be controlledindependently of each other. lt is a further object oi the invention. tomount these mechanisms withina casing with only the actuating :membersfor the several controlling devices exposed on the exterior of' saidcasino:

.ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top, pian view of thedistributer with the top plate and the operating handle for the rneinAswitch removed; Fig. 2 is an ele- Y.'aition of the distributer lookingtoward the lett on F 1, with the upper part thereof in section takencent-rally through the suine und with the lower portion of the casii'sgadjacent the right broken awnjv and 'y 'nl/f in section; Fig. 3 is alifnizontnl, scctional .view taken on the line .fr .o of liig. -rokingin the direction of the errows und showing the main switch open; Fig'. lis a transverse, sectional view teken on the line g/ y of Fig. 2 andlooking in the direc- Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented 0015.30, 1917.

pplication filed July 31, 1915. Serial No. 42,990.

tion of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line a L of Fig. 4and looking in the direction ot the arrows; Fig. 6 is a'seetional viewtaken on the line b b of Fig. 4f and looking in the. direction of thearrows; Fig. 7 is n detail view ot' the starter switch; Fio. 8 is atransverse, sectional view taken on the line w ik: of Fig. 2andvloo'king in the directionl ofthe arrows; and Fig. 9 is a diagruin ofthe. circuits.

This application is a continuation in part et the application tiled byme October 1l-th, 1913, Ser. No. 793,367,0nwhich liet- `ters Patent1,177,976 were granted April 1th, i936. Matter herein shown anddescribedwhich is also shown and described in inv copending applicationtiled July 31st,

its here illustrated the distributing device comprises u casing ofbukelite or hemit l heffing mounted therein the various Circuitcontrolling"devices. This casing coniprises a bottoni wall or base 2provided with e.- eentral opening 3 through which the various conductorsmay be led to their' con-J devices. 'lhe casing is closed at its upperend b v a top wall or cap i havin-g therein e bearing 5 in which isjournuled en ectuutingdevice or handle 6 for the' inain switch, whichwill bey hereinafter described.. A

Supported within the casing is a druin 7 which forms a support torcertain of the controlling devices and also constitutes a core for theresistance winding 8, as will hereinafter appear. This drum. may besupported within 4the casing in any suitable inenner, but is here shownas formed integral with a plate or partition 9, the lateral edges oi'which extend-beyond the periphery of the drinn and are mounted betweenthe upper and lower portions of the casing,

which, in the present instance, is divided into two parts. Thispartition serves also to divide the casing into upper andflowercompartments. the bottoni wall of the drum are provided with openings 10and 1l to permit of the free. circulation et air through and about thedrum. Mounted within the drum and preferably on the bottoni wall thereofis a Both the' partition 9 and.

the form of a flat curved plate supported by and arranged above theconnector plate 13 which is mounted on the bottom wall of the drum 7 andis electrically connected at 1st with the battery lead 15. The usualsource of current for automobile electrical systems is a storage batteryand it is contemplated that the present device will be used with such asystem but it will also be understood that its use is not limited tostorage battery systems but it may be used in connection with anysuitable source of supply for electric' current and the term batterylead as herein used will include the conductor leading from any suchsource of supply. Cooperatingr with the fixed contact member 12 of themain switch is a movable contact member 16 which is here shown ascarried by a stud 17 rotatably mounted in the bottom wall of the drum 7and as formed of two resilient arms adapted to engage the opposite sidesot' the contact plate and to be moved into and out of engagementtherewith, the edges of the arms being flared to facilitate theirreiigagement with the `contact member after they have been moved out ofcontact therewith. The rotatable stud 17 is connected at its upper endwith a block of .insulating material 18 which is rotatably -mounted inthe partition 9 and has secured thereto a connecting device or rod 19extend ing through the upper compartment of the casing and connectedwith the actuating handle 6, by means of which the main switch may bemanipulated.

Leading from the drum 7 is a head light circuit 20 which also includesthe resistance winding 8 which is 'mounted on the core or drum 7 Thishead light circuit is provided with a plurality of separated Contactpoints 21, 22 and 23 arranged to cut in different uantities of theresistance windings and -tius regulate the brilliancy of the headlights. Cooperating with these contact points is a movable contactmember or arm 24; which is secured to the stud 17 so as to move with themovable-member of the main switch and is electrically connected with themovable member of the main switch. Con sequently, the current passesfrom the movable member of the main switch through the arm 24 and fromthe selected contact point to the head light circuit. The contacts 21,22 and 23are so arranged with relation to the iixed contact member ofthe main switch that when the movable llnember or arm 24 ot' thecontrolling device for the head light circuit is in contact with `anyone of these points the movable member. of the main switch v will be'incont et with the fixed contact member of that sygitch.'V When thehandie 6 is moved tothe limit of its movement in one `direction both ofthe movable contact members will be moved out of engagement with thefixed contact members and the iiected at its upper end with a contactplatev 28 having a portion arranged in the path of the plunger 29 of apush button which is held normally in its outer position by a spring 30and is connected with the horn circuit 31, thus enabling this horn to besounded whenever the main switch is closed. This contact plate 28extends inwardandis connected at 32 with a plate 33 turned upi ward toforni a support for a transverse member 34 which, in the presentinstance, is formed integral with the contact plate. This member 34extends transversely Vof the cas'- ing to points near the opposite sidesthereof and is provided at its respective ends with downturned portions35 and 36 which constitute contact members. Arranged adjacent to butspaced away from the contact members and 36 are other contact mem-l bers37 and 38 which comprise resilient arms andv are connected,respectively, With the circuit for the vdash and tail lights, which arepreferably connected in series and with the cireuitsfor the side lightsor li hts within the car. The casing is provide adjacent to each pair ofcontacts with a bearing, 39 and 40, in which .is rotatabl mounted a studIll having at its inner en a transverse head 42 of such length that whenturned into horizontal position the ends thereof will engage therespective contact members and .establish electrical connection betweenthem, and when the head is turned in a vertical position it willl liebetween and out of engagement with the Contact members. The inner end ofthe bearing is flaredA and each stud is provided with a spring 43 tomove the same outward and'y thus dra the ,edge of the transverse headinto the ared recess in the bearing to hold thel same in its inoperativeposition. The studsare provided with handles or wheels 44 by means ofwhich they may be rotated, the rotation of the studs causing their headsto travel along the flared redges of the recesses in bearings againstthe tension of the springs;

The engine circuits, that is, the startery and ignition circuitsaie'-placed under individual control sub]ect to a main controllingdevice, the operation of which serves to make or break the severalcircuits. As here shown allthe controlling devices for vconnected withthe connector plate i3 by means of a stud 45 and a plate 46, whichlatter is 4connected. with and preferably carries the fixed contactmember of a switch forming a part of the main controlling de vice. ber,47 comprises two resilient fingers deending from the plate 46 adapted toreceive etiveen them a blade or movable Contact member 48 which ispivotally mounted on brackets 49 carried by the base 2 and is -heldnormally out of engagement with the fixed contact member by means of aspring 50.- Connected with the movable contact member or blade 48through the medium of its pivot pin is a conductor bar 51 which leads toa resilient` Contact member or iinger 52 forming apart of the starterswitch. Cooperating with the finger 52 is a second resilient finger orcontact member 53 which is connected With a conductor 54 leading to thestarter. A push button 55 is slidably mounted in the base 2 of thecasing, in which the Contact members 52 and 53 are mounted, and has astem or plunger 56 adapted to enter the space between and establishelectrical communication between the contact members 52 and 53. A springo7 holds the plunger normally in its inoperative position.

The-ignition circuits comprise a main conductor 58 leading .to theignition devices and adapted to be connected in either et two circuits7the one leading to the dry cells and the other to the magneto. As hereshown, the conductor 58 is adapted to be electrically connected with apiveted arm 59 to which is secured a handle 66, by means of which thearm can be moved into engage nient either with a contact point 6lconnected by a conductor 62 with the dry cells or into engagement with acontact point 63 connected by a conductor with the ma@ neto. A thirdpoint is provided, as shown at 65, to forma stopto retain the movablecontactmember 59 in a neutral position in which the ignition circuit isbrol e The handle 60 travels along a suitable to indicate the positionot the cuntacp bei' 59. Means are provided for piacil g he ignitioncircuits under the control oit the main controlling` device and te thisl have established connection between the ig- As here shown a fixedcontact menrnition circuit 58 and the movable contact member 59 throughthe medium ot a circuit breaker und closer comprisinga resilient nger 67connected with the conductor 58 l and a movable contact member or wiper68 secured to the pivoted contact member 59 and moving therewith, thewidth et this wiper 68 being such that it can engage the resilientcontact member 67 when the inevable contact arm 59 is in any one or' itsthree positions. The blade or movable contact member 48 of the maincontroller is provided with a part 7 O extending beyond its axis andhaving means ornioving the resilient contact member 67 into and out ofengagement with the wiper 68. rlhis means preferably comprises twoinsulated pins '7l and 72 so arranged .that when the vmovable Contactmember is' moved into its inoperative position the pin 72 will lift -thecontact member 67 away from the wiperand when the blade or contactmember 48 is moved into its operative position the pin71 will move theresilient contact member 67 into engagement with the wiper 68. Theresiliency of the contact member 67 will serve to return the same to itsoperative position in engagement with the wiper but in order that thisreturn movement may be positive l prefer to provide the pin 71 for thispurpose. Any suitable means may be provided t'or 'actuating the blade ormovable contact member oli' the main controlling device. As here shown Ihave provided a removable key for this purpose which consists ot' a stem73 having on its outer end a finger piece or handle 74 and provided atits inner end with a bit or lip 75. The base 2 of the casing' isprovided with a thicl:- cned portion 76 in which is formed a slotcommunicating with a recess 77 into which the lower edge 'of the bladeextends when the latter is in its inoperative position. The slot isprovided at one end with a depression or groove which forms a bearingfor the stein 7 3 and when the bit of the lrey has been passed throughthe slot into a position beneath the blade 48 the key can be rotated inthis bearing and the bit caused te engage the lower edge of the bladeand move the same into its operative posicion, thus closing the enginecircuits. im the ,control of the engine from the l-"eiiti f circuits theone c. i controlled inde endently et the other the engine circuits canbe interrupted the machine eiri'ectually locked against operation by theremoval of the hey, or etuating device for the master controlli device.

l/llhile have shown and descriliied one embodiment o'c tde invention itwill. understood that this has been chosen for the purposes ofillustration only and that l' do not desire to be limited to the detailsci? retin 0 construction shown and described, for obvious modificationswill occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In a system of distribution, a plurality of sources of electricalenergy each having a iixed contact member,` a. lever of conductingmaterial adapted to be moved into engagement with either one or theother of said contact members, an electrical device provided with amovable contact member adapted to engage and disengage said' lever,

and means for actuating said movable contact member.

2. In a controlling` device for engine circuits, a starter circuit, anindividual circuit breaker and closer therefor, a plurality of ignitioncircuits leading to Separate sources of electric current, 'separatefix/ed contact members for said ignition circuits, a single movablecontact member coperating with both said iXed Contact members for s aidignition circuits, a second circuit breaker and closer interposedbetween said movable member and the ignition. devices and com prising apart carried by said movable member and a part movable into and out of nu n l engagement with said part carried by said movable member, a-second circuit breaker and closer in said starter circuit comprising apivoted member having a part extending beyond its axis andl rovided withinsulated devices for moving t e last-mentioned member of said secondcircuit breaker and closer for the ignition circuits into and out ofcngagement with the other part of said second circuit breaker andcloser.

3. In a system of distributers, a. casing having a base, a plurality ofcircuits, circuit breakers and closers for said circuits, one

;cuit breaker vand A closer in each circuit operable independently ofthe first-mentioned circuit breakers and closers.

4. In a controlling device, a plurality o sources of electrical energyprovided with conductors having ,fixed `contact members, an electricaldevice provided with a movable contact member, a lever provided witharms adapted to engage said movable con-'- tact member and to be movedinto engagement with either of said fixed contact members, a circuit, acircuit breaker and closer for said circuit comprisinga movable mem-Iber, and means on said last-mentioned mov# able member in engagementwith the firstmentioned movable member, whereby they are'simultaneouslycontrolled.

In 'testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CARL J. WALLACE.

